The board issues regulatory clearances transparently, carries out announced and unannounced inspections of nuclear installations, and reviews their safety performance.

Over 200 highly-trained and qualified scientists and engineers carry out AERB's mandate. The board ensures that the doses to workers and radioactive releases to environment from nuclear installations are within limits.

The board also keeps abreast with safety enhancements of nuclear plants mandated internationally post-Fukushima. It will ensure implementation of required measures in Indian plants.

When required, AERB imposed reduction in power levels of nuclear power reactors and shut some of them for specified periods to carry out appropriate evaluations.

After the fire incident at Unit 1 of the Narora AtomicPower Station, the board ordered sequential shutdown of each unit of the pressurised heavy water reactor stations for inspection.

In 1994, subsequent to the failure of the inner containment dome of Unit 1 of the Kaiga Atomic Power Project, AERB suspended construction activities related to the inner containment domes of Kaiga Unit 2, and Units 3 and 4 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project.

AERB lifted the hold only after resolving related-safety matters. NPCIL complied with AERB directives at considerable expenditure without preferring appeals.

The perception that AERB is subservient to DAE is without foundation. AERB authorised the criticality of Unit 1 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and shall review plants to be set up at other sites.

It interacts with regulatory agencies overseas and the IAEA. AERB's legal status will enhance when the Nuclear Safety and Regulatory Authority Bill comes into force.

While there is scope for improvements in some of the activities of AERB, those who argue that India lacks institutional capability to ensure nuclear safety do not know the factual position.